Runproof or run-resistant fullfashioned or flat-knit stocking or blank therefor



April 19, 193,8.

RUNPROOF FLAT- T` STOCKING Original Filed E. CARLSON -RESISTANTFULL-FASHIONED OR .OR BLANK THEREFOR March 4, 1957 5 Sheets-Shea# l4IS7/ve nio 2'." E538 wo rZE 0052136021 @W1/m M 1%. cz'ys.

Aprnl 19, 1938. E. E. CARLSON 2,114,955

RUNPROOF OR RUN-RESISTANT FULL-FASHIONED OR FLAT-KNIT STOCKING OR BLANKTHEREFOR Original Filed March 4,v 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr.,l9, 15938 RUNPRUOF OR RUN RESISTANT FULL- FASHIONED R. FLAT-KNITSTOCKING OE BLANK THEREFOR Ellsworth E. Carlson, Saratoga Springs, N.-Y., assigner to Van Raalte Company, New York,

. anlass I PATENT -FFICE N. Y., a corporation of New York 12 claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No.128,951, led March 4, 1937.

This invention relates to run-proof or run-resistant full-fashioned orflat-knit stockings or blanks therefor.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood,I shall disclose several types or embodiments of the vsaid stocking orblank.

m The stockings or blanks herein disclosed are made basically inaccordance with patents already issued to me, among which I'particularlyrefer to the following: No. 1,978,408, Oct. 30, 1934; No. 1,978,409,Oct. 30, 1934; No. 1,978,412, Oct. 30, 1934; No. 2,011,267, Aug. 13,1935; No. 2,014,- 126, Sept.,10, 1935; No. 2,037 ,000, April 14, 1936;No. 2,039,283, May 5, 1936, and No. 2,049,994, Aug. 4, 1936.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a non-run or strongly run-resistant blankknitted of full width throughout and in accordance with my invention; f

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing a blank after trimming;

Fig. 3 is a view upon an enlarged scale of the lower portion of theblank shown in Fig. 1 to indicate the presence of the warp threadsthroughout the entire extent of the said blank;

Fig.. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a heel portion and a part of thefabric adjacent there-,- to when made by a widening action in alternatecourses,` this being desirably done by employing mechanism generally ofthe so-called TW type;

Fig. 5 .is a plan view of the toe portion of the fabric to indicatediagrammatically the narrowling action;

Fig. 6 is a view of the foot portion of the stocking to indicate theseaming along the middle of the bottom thereof, which is continued upthe back of the leg;

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic view to indicate the formation of theheel portions, which I preferably accomplish by using mechanismgenerally of the so-called TC type; and

Figs. 8 and 9 represent diagrammatically the formation of the heel,which I preferably accomplish by using mechanism of the general TL type.

' In my patents hereinbefore referredto, I have disclosed a non-run orstrongly run-resistant full-fashioned or flat-knit stocking or blanktherefor, wherein a warp thread is preferably introdu'ced, one for eachneedle Wale. In certainl oi. said patents, I have disclosed means forlaterally (Cl. (i6-178) transferring stitches for fasnioning the fabric.In certain of said patents the stocking blank is disclosed as knitted offull width throughout. In those patents wherein means for knitting thestocking blank is disclosed, I have among ,other things disclosed theknitting of a blank or a continuous succession of blanks each knitted offull width down to the toe. In this application, I have disclosed theknitting of the entire stocking blank from the commencement of the weltthrough the toe, all upon a single-unitv single-head machine, the warpthreads which render the stocking of a non-run or strongly run-resistantcharacter extending continuously throughout each stocking blank.

The machine shown in the patent to Howie and Krieble, No, 1,982,991, isknown upon the market as the Wildman single-unit single-head machine.Said machine as now upon the market is of several types knownrespectively as the TW, the TC and the TL machines. In the said TWmachine, the instep stitches are not taken 0E the needles during theknitting of the heel tabs or members.v

In the TL type, the instep stitches are taken oi the instep needlesduring the knitting of the heel tabs or members, and then returned tothe same needles. i

To the several types of the Wildman singleunit single-head machines, Ihave applied mechanism disclosed in my said parent application Ser. No.128,951 for the introduction ofv warp threads preferably one to eachneedle Wale, which warp threads are continued in action throughout theknitting of the entire blank, namely, from the commencement of the topwelt through the termination of the toe, and in so doing I have made adistinctly novel full-fashioned or atknit stocking or blank therefor, ofa non-run or strongly run-resistant character throughout, and which isthe subject matter of the present application.

Where I refer in the specification to a weft thread or a body thread orthe like, it is to be understood that such terminologyis intended toinclude the introduction of three or more threads in accordance with theKaufman method disclosed in 'the Kaufman Patent No. 1,969,307, August 7,1934.

The stocking blank, shown -in its unnished condition in Fig. 1 and inits trimmed condition in Fig. 2 at I and 2 respectively, so -far as theportion thereof down to the heel tabs is concerned, is desirably knittedin the manner disclosed in my Patent No. 1,978,408, Fig. 3, and morefully described in my Patent No. 1,978,409,

wherein the stocking blank in its unfinished condition is represented inFig, 37. In said Patent No. 1,978,409 is disclosed a Reading type offullfashioned knitting machine, whereas the blank shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3 thereof is made upon the Wildman single-unit single-head machine.In both cases I introduce a separate warp thread to each needle Walethroughout the width of the fabric and conne each warp thread to its ownneedle Wale throughout, so that each sinker Wale is devoid of a Warpthread. While my invention is not limited thereto, I have preferred inpractice to introduce a separate warp thread to each needle Wale and toconfine each warp thread to its own needle Wale throughout. While Iprefer to knit the stocking blank of full width throughout, my inventionis not so limited.

Desirably I employ natural silk threads in the manufacture of thestocking,- but my invention is not limited to the use of any particularmaterial. Preferably, however, I do employ natural silk and the bodythread or threads may be of such character as to result in chiionhosiery, but my invention is not so limited. I may employ in themanufacture of chiffon hosiery one thread or more, and the warp threadsare also preferably of silk of like character, so that'the resultingstocking blank is made of silk throughbut, preferably in the gray andsubsequently dyed, but my invention may also be employed in themanufacture of ingrain stockings.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the upper Welt is shown at 3. Although the stockingblank is knitted of the full width throughout as shown in Fig. 1,stitches are laterally transferred inward both near the knee portion asindicated at d, 4in Figs. 1 and 2, and also at the calf portion asindicated at 5, 5 in saidgures. In so fashioning the stocking blank, Ipreferably proceed in the manner fully disclosed in my said Patent No.1,978,409 and particularly in Figs. 25 to 29 thereof. Each warp threadcontinues in action without being severed and without the fabric beingremoved from the machine, from the commencementof the welt 3 down to theextreme lower end of the blank indicated by the line 6 6. In otherwords, the warp threads are continued, without necessary threadseverance, to the toe portion 1 of the stocking, this including not onlythe instep portion 8 but also the high splice portions 9, the heel tabsor portions I 0 and the two portions II, II, which when seamed togetherconstitute the under Side of the foot, which in this case would resultin the manufacture of the French type of foot, to which, however, myinvention is not limited, as I may make the foot of the English type.The said blank is desirably reinforced as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 inthe high splice, the heel and the sole of the foot by the introductionof Vadditional threads in a manner which need not be more fullydescribed.

It is unnecessary to show the structure of each stitch of the fabricupon a suiciently large scale to represent both the body or weft threadsand the warp thread as entering into and constituting the same, but itis to be understood that such is the structure herein and herebydisclosed. I have, however, in Fig. 3, represented one characteristicneedle Wale as representative of each and every needle Wale throughoutthe fabric. In said figure, the weft or body thread is indicated at I2and the warp thread at I3. The warp thread I3 is introduced at and forthe very commencement of the upper Welt and continues down through thetoe. It is to be understood that in the operation of the machine theWarp threads are continuously introduced stocking blank after stockingblank, so that they are not removed from the warp thread guides orlingers, but are by said guides or fingers constantly introduced intothe fabric or fabrics as the same isor are knitted. I have also n saidFig. 3 indicated diagrammatically the character of the fabric not onlyin the said single representative needle Wale but at other portionsthereof.

Referring further to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and als to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, andmaking reference in this connection to the so-called TW type single-unitsingle-head machine, it is pointed out that Whereas in all of my patentshereinbefore referred to stitches are laterally transferred inward toeffect narrowings (although certain claims of said patents are not solimited), I, in this application, disclose the transferring of stitchesoutward to widen the fabric. The stitches so transferred outwardly arestitches in the heel tabs III, I0 of Figs. l, 2 and 3. In Fig. 4 I haveshown diagrammatically one of said heel tabs or portions IU. In orderthat the said heel tabs or portions maybe formed or produced upon a moresatisfactory outward inclination to the instep portion, etc. (that is,more nearly assuming a right-angled relation thereto), I desirablylaterally transfer outward heel-tab portions of courses of stitchesthroughout an extensive portion of each of said heel tabs. Thestitchesso laterally transferred outwand are desirably each composed ofthe warp thread loop and the weft thread loop together composing suchstitch, although within the scope of my invention I may transferoutwardly only one of the threads of each of said loops, as, forexample, the body or weft thread. Desirably, however, I laterallytransfer outward both the warp and the weft thread constituents of eachloop where transfer occurs.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, the rst course in the heel tab orportion is represented diagrammatically at I 4. 'Ihis course consistsentirely of non-laterally transferred stitches. The next course I5knitted in the same direction preferably consists throughout the heeltab or portion of stitches laterally transferred outwardly. The nextcourse I6 knitted in the same direction preferably consists of stitchesnot laterally transferred, and the next course I1 knitted in said samedirection consists of stitches a-ll of Which in the heel-tab areas arelaterally transferred outwardly. This alternation of non.. laterallytransferred stitches' forming one course and laterally outwardlytransferred throughout the heel-tab areas in the next course knitted insaid same direction is preferably continued throughout the formation ofeach heel tab or portion.

Thus, I have disclosed a structurel wherein at least one of the threadsconstituting a stitch (i. e. the warp thread and the body or weftthread) is laterally transferred outward. Suchl lateral transfer outwardoccurs throughout an extensive portion of the fabric and is preferably alateral transfer of both the Warp threads and the body or weft thread.Such transfer in the heel tabs or portions occu'rs in separated coursesand desirably in alternate courses knitted in the same direction. Thus,the stocking blank is provided with heel portions whereof alternatecourses knitted in the same direction only have laterally transferredoutward stitches that are composed both of warp threads and of the bodythread or threads. All of the stitches of one or more of the courses inthe heel portions are thus laterally transferred outward for the purposeof widening lil the heel tabs and giving them more nearly a right-angledrelation to the instep.

It will thus be understood that I have provided a blank or stockingwherein is provided a series of warp threads one for substantially eachneedle wale of the fabric and collectively knitted into substantiallyall the stitches of the needle wales, so that substantially each stitchof the main thread or threads of the fabric has a stitch of a warpthread to render the said fabric of a non-run or strongly run-resistantcharacter. said stocking blank having stitches laterally transferredoutwardly.

It will further be understood that as the stocking blank is knitted upona machine capable of knitting the entire foot and the toe upon the samemachine which formed the leg, I have provided a full-fashioned orat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistant stocking blank comprising anintegrally knitted leg portion, as shown in Figs. l and 2, an instepportion 8, heel portions I8, foot-sole portions II and a toe portion 'I,said blank comprising a main or body thread or threads knitted into allthe wales of the said blank from edge to edge thereof and into all thecourses of the said blank and a series of warp threads extendingintegrally (i. e. Without necessary thread severance) lengthwise thefabric through the said leg portion, instep, heel, footsole and toe.Thus, the said stocking or blank, when knitted upon the said TW type ofWildrnan full-fashioned machine, has as a continuation formed initiallyand integrally therewith and without necessary thread severance, aninstep portion with initially integral lateral extensions, I I, I I,which together, when seamed as indicated at I8 in Fig. 6, constitute thebottom of the foot, and has a toe I constituting an intially integralextension (without necessary thread severance) of said instep portionand said'lateal extensions, the warp threads extending without necessarythread severance throughout the entire longitudinal extent of said heelportions I0, the instep portion 8, the foot-bottom portions II, II and,the toe 'I. No thread severance of the wei't thread or threads or anyof the warp threads is compelled during the knitting of the stocking bythe herein described steps V'ofmanufacture of the stocking.

The seam in this type of stocking extends along the middle of the bottomof the foot, as indicated at I8 (Fig. 6) and up the back of the leg asindicated at I9 in said figure.

It will be evident from the foregoing that my invention includes afull-fashioned or fiat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistant stockingor blank therefor knitted from a main or body thread or threadsextending into all the wales from edge to edge of the fabric and intoall the courses of the said stocking or blank, and having a series ofwarp threads extending lengthwise of the fabric into respective loops insuccessive courses in different loops of the said main or body thread orthreads in such courses; and having at the heel portions laterallyoutwardly transferred stitches in succeeding courses, the knittingoperation continuing from edge to edge of the fabric, so as to providethe instep portion and the sole portions, all initially integrallyformed with saidheel portions without necessary thread severance. In theknitting operation, I provide at the inner edge of each heel portion, asindicated at 2U, 20

in Figs. 1 and 2, an outwardly downwardly extending inclined line ofopenings, which openings are respectively traversed by certain of saidcontinuous warp threads. The knitting of the said instep portion 8continues course for course during the knitting of the heel portions I8,I (i. e. without.taking the instep stitches or fabric off the needles)that is, when producing the fabric upon the said TW type of machine.

Such stocking blank I of Fig. 1 has as a continuation formed initiallyand integrally therewith and without necessary thread severance,aninstep portion 8 with initially integral lateral extensions i I, Il,that together, when seamed, constitute the bottom of the foot, asindicated at 2| in Fig. 6, said blank also having a toe I constitutingan initially integral extension of the said instep portion 8 and saidlateral extensions I I, the said warp threads extending withoutnecessary thread severance throughout the entire longitudinal extent ofsaid heel portions Il), I0, instep portion 8, foot-bottom portions II,II, and toe 'I. The toe is fashioned by lateral transfer of stitches, asindicated diagrammatically at 22 in Fig. 5. These stitches are laterallytransferred inward by one-neeedle narrowings.

Thus, my invention includes in the disclosure thereof thus far referredto, a full-fashioned or flat-knit stocking blank knitted of full widththroughout, having a main or body thread or threads knitted into all thewales from edge to edge of the fabric blank and into all portions of thesaid blank, said stocking blank' having a series of Warp threads one forsubstantially each needle wale of the fabric and collectively knittedinto substantially all the stitches of the said needle Wales, so thatsubstantially each stitch of the main thread or threads of the fabrichas a stitch of warp thread to render the said fabric blank of a non-runor strongly run-resistant character, said blank having heel portionsknitted upon the blank, which heel portions have stitches of warp andweft threads laterally transferred outward in alternate courses knittedin the same direction.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the heel tabs orheel portions I8 are there diagrammatically indicated as containingoutward Widenings. The two foot-sole portions II are diagrammaticallyindicated at 23, 23 as having inward narrowings. The toe portion I isthere shown as having toe narrowings 22,- 22a, which are preferably oneneedle narrowings. Throughout the knitting of the entire fabric shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, each warp thread conv tinues without interruption inits own needle Wale, as explained in my said patents.

It is to be understood that in knitting the fabric herein disclosed,there is throughout the same a stitch measuring of the weft 'thread andan accurate apportionment of the warp threads in all the stitches, asfully disclosedin my said Patent No. 2,049,994. The same principle ofstitch measurement of the weft thread and accurate ,apportionment of thewarp threads is herein employed by me, as disclosed in my said patent.

I preferably knit the Welt at the top of the stocking from a body, mainor weft thread thatare being incorporated into stitches made from theheavier weft thread or threads, than I do to the said warp threads whilethey are being incorporated into the stitches which aremade from a weftor body thread which is of less diameter or smaller denier such as inthe leg and instep. In accordance with my invention, I proportion thetension upon the warpthreads in inverse relation to the size, weight ordiame-l ter of weft or body thread or threads, thus increasing thelongitudinal expansibilty of the fabric particularly with respect tothose portions of the fabric having the heavier weft or body thread orthreads, such, for example, as the top welt.

My invention, however, is not limited to lessening the tension upon thewarp threads only in the top welt (which includes the so-called shadowwelt) and in the heel, since one of my purposes in providing a heavierweft thread at desired points is to resist special strains which may anddo occur elsewhere than in the upper welt or in the so-called shadowwelt, as, for example, at the knee when bent, which special strains are,in part at least, relieved by introducing the warp threads under lesstension at areas subjected to special strain in use. Moreover, it is tobe noted that the position or location of the upper welt with respect tothe knee, when the stocking is worn, may vary with different makes orstyles of stockings.

The foregoing completes the description of the formation of the non-runstocking or blank therefor when made upon the so-called TW type ofWildman machine. been hereinbefore pointed out by me that during theknitting of the heel portions the knitting also continues upon theinstep, or, in other words,

the stitches are not taken 01T the instep needles Y' during the knittingof the heel portions.

I will next describe the knitting of a stocking blank upon what istermed the TC and TL forms. An outstanding difference between the TWform on the one hand and the TC and TL forms on the other, is that whenthe knitting operation has progressed to the commencement of the heelportions, the stitches are taken off the instep needles and held out ofaction temporarily, the said stitches being restored to the instepneedles substantially upon the completion of the heel portions.

So far as the introduction of the warp threads into the fabric isconcerned, the action is essentially the same in all three of saidforms, namely, the TW, TC and TL, and therefore it will be unnecessaryto repeat the description with respect thereto.

I will suciently refer to the heel construction of both the TC type andthe TL type, the former being shown in Fig. 7 and the latter being shownin Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring to Fig. 7, the lower part of the ankle portion .(namely, theportion just preceding the commencement of the heel portions) isrepresented at 24. When the commencement of the heel portions isreached, the instep stitches are taken off the needles by mechanismemployed therefor. Then the two heel portions 25, 26 are knitted. asintegral continuations of the leg portion. The said heel portions areknitted without any widening action Whatever, as was done iny connectionwith the TW type. Upon the comple-.fI tion of the said heel portions,the instep stitches are transferred back to the needles and the said twoheel portions 25, 26 are topped onto the In the TW type, it has stepneedles.

proper needles, so that the footsole portions may be knitted ascontinuations of said heel portions after said heel portions have beenso topped onto the needles. The operation of knitting the instep or topof the foot continues and at the same time there are knitted asinitially integral lateral extensions of said instep, the two parts 21,28 just above referred to, and which together constitute the bottom ofthe foot. Then the toe portion 29 is knitted, desirably in the samemanner as shown in Fig. 5, said toe portion thus being an initiallyintegral extension of the said instep portion and of said lateralextensions 21, 28. It will be noted that the warp threads extendthroughout the entire fabric shown in Fig. 7, and that the warp threadsextend without necessary thread severance throughout the entirelongitudinal extent of said heel portions, the instep portion, thefoot-bottom portions and the toe, excepting for the severance of warpthreads between or with respect to the heel portions 25, 26 and the soleportions 21, 28. The blank is then seamed up along the bottom of thefoot and the back of the leg. According to the TC type, it is necessaryto cut the fabric at the end of the heel tabs to turn them at rightangles for top ping, the cut being made in front of the needles so thatsome fabric remains thereon.

The knitting of the heel portions, etc. according to the TL type isindicated in Figs. 8 and 9. As there shown, the knitting proceeds untilthe lower part of the ankle portion is completed as indicated at 30.Thereupon the instep stitches are taken off the needles in a mannersimilar to that just referred to, and the knitting of the two heelportions 3|, 32 is proceeded with. Substantially at the end of whatconstitutes the heel portions, the instep stitches are put back on thein- There is, however, no topping action employed, but the heel iscompleted by what is known as a looping action, which is done after theknitting of the blank is completed. Therefore, the knitting operationproceeds from this point onward as described with respect to the TC formshown in Fig. 7, so as to completethe top of the foot, the lateralextensions thereof which form the bottom of the foot, and the toe. Inknitting the heel portions 3 I, 32, I knit an ada looping finger-holdincluding a loose course.

The two heel portions as they appear after` the completion of the blank,but before the cutting and seaming action, are indicated in Fig. 8 at 3|32, 33, the numeral 33 indicating the bunched-up or looped-up portionsof the heel taps, which hunched-up or looped-up portions aresubsequently trimmed or cut out prior to the looping indicated at 34. InFig. 9, I have indcated that each heel portion is cut through at thetermination thereof and then turned into a lateral position, whereuponthe lateral edge of each heel portion is looped or seamed as indicatedat 34 onto the commencement of the bottom-foot portions of the fabric.

It will be understood that in this type-of stock-l ing when made inaccordance with my invention, the warp threads are continuous throughoutthe entire fabric from the initial introduction of the said threads downto the completion of the fabric. There is, of course, a necessaryseverance of the warp threads pertaining to the heel portions and thefoot-bottom portions by the action of cutting the heel portions across,as indicated in Fig. 9, for the looping or seamin'g action.

Referring again to the knitting of the fabric according to the TC type,asshown in Fig.I '7, it will be understood that the warp threadscontinue throughout the heel portions. Iniperforming the topping action,the inner lateral edge of each heel portion is topped upon the needlesand the knitting of the two foot-bottom sections or portions isproceeded with as already described.

In knitting the said heel portions, the warp threads are introduced eachinto a separate needle wale of the said heel portions. In other words,each yand every stitch throughout the entire fabric, both of the TC formand the TL form, contains a warp stitch, this being also true of the 'IWform already described. In the so-called TW type, the instep stitchesare not taken off the needles during the knitting of the heel portions.In both the TC and TL types, said instep stitches are taken off theneedles at the very commencement of the knitting of the heel portionsand are restored to the same needles upon the completion of said heelportions.

While I have described the full-fashioned or flat-knit stocking orstocking blank of my invention as knitted upon a single-unit single-headmachine, I desire it to be vunderstocd that I may knit the stocking orstocking blank of my invention upon any machine or machines capable ofperforming the necessary operations to produce the same, whether themachine be a single-unit single-head machine, or a single-unitmultiplehead machine, or a single-head machine, or a multiple-headmachine. While I have specifi# cally described the knitting of the heelin accordance with the so-called TW, the TL, and/or the TC types ofWildman machine, my invention is not limited to the knitting of the heelportion or portions in accordance with any of said types excepting ascertain of the claims `definitely so specify.

My invention as herein disclosed does not exwarp threads are knitted inwith the weft thread,

rendering it difficult to loop, I may, Within the scope of my invention,make said loose courses wholly of the weft thread or threads.

Neither is rny invention limited to narrowing at every course-in the toeportion, since within the scope thereof I may narrow at intervals as inevery other course, thus relieving strain on the yarn or thread intransferring the stitches. By knitting in a plain coursebetweenAtransferred courses, strain upon the yarn or thread is relieved.Having thus described certain embodiments of the stocking and stockingblank of my invention, and the best mode known to me for making thesame, it is to be understood that although specinc terms are employed,they are used in alge y neric and descriptive sense and not for purposesof limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth inthefollowing claims.

I claim:-

' 1. A full-fashioned or vflat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor, integrally knitted in one piece from thetopof the stocking through the instep and toe and including the entire footportion, without thread severance being compelled by the steps ofstocking manufacture, said stocking or blank comprising a main or bodythread or threads knitted into all the wales from edge to edge of thefabric throughout the length thereof, and alseries of warp threadsextending each in an unsevered continuous condition lengthwise thefabric and respectively knitted in loops-in successive courses indifferent loops of said main or body thread or threads in such courses.

2. A full-fashioned or flat-knit run-proof o r strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor, integrally knitted in one piece from the topof the stocking through the instep and toe and in- I cluding the entirefoot portion, without thread severance being compelled by the steps ofstocki ing manufacture, said stocking or blank comprising a main or bodythread or threads knitted into all the wales from edge to edge of thefabric throughout the length thereof, and a series of warp threads onefor substantially each needle wale of the said fabric each extending inan unsevered continuous condition lengthwise the fabric and collectivelyknitted into substantially all the stitches of all said needle wales, torender the fabric of a non-run or stronglyv run-resistant character.

3. A blank for a full-fashioned or flat-knit runproof or stronglyrun-resistant stocking integrally knitted of full width throughout Ainone piece from the top of the blank through the instep and toe andincluding the entire foot portion, without thread severance beingcompelled by the steps of stocking manufacture, said blank comprising amain or body thread or threads knitted into all thewales from edge toedge of the fabric throughout the length thereof, and a series of warpthreads extending each in an unsevered continuous condition lengthwisethe fabric and respectively knitted in loops in successive courses indifferent loops of said main or body thread or threads in such courses,said blank also including heel portionseach having a multiplicity ofstitches laterally transferred outwardly.

4. A full-fashioned or :dat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor provided with a top welt, the said stockingor blank being integrally knitted in one piece from the commencement ofsaid welt through the toe without thread severance beingv compelled bythe steps of stocking manufacture, said stocking or blank thereforcomprising a main or body thread or threads knitted into all the walesfrom edge.

to edge of the fabric throughout the leg thereof, and a seriesof warpthreads, one for substantially each needle wale of the said fabric andcollectively knitted into substantiallyall the stitches of said needlewales, so that susbtantially each stitch of the main thread or threadsof the fabric has a stitch of a warp thread, to render said fabric of anon-run or strongly run-resistant character, said stocking or blankhaving a top welt and each of said warp threads extending continuouslyfrom the beginning of the welt to the opposite end of the fabric andknitted respectively into the leg, instep, heel, sole and toe of thestocking or blank.

5. A. full-fashioned or dat-knit .run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor comprising a main or body thread or threadsknitted into all the wales from edge to edge of the fabric and into allthe courses of the stocking or blank, and a series of warp threadsextending lengthwise said fabric and respectively knitted in loops insuccessive courses in dierent loops of said main or body thread orthreads in such courses, said stocking or lblank having stitchescomposed both of warp threads and the body thread or threads laterallytransferredoutward.

6. A full-fashioned or fiat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor comprising a main or body thread or threadsknitted into all the wales from edge to edge of the fabric and into allthe courses of the stocking or blank, and a series of warp threadsextending lengthwise said fabric and respectively knitted in loops insuccessive courses in different loops of said main or body thread orthreads in such courses, said stocking or blank having heel portions,stitches whereof composed both of warp threads and the body thread orthreads are laterally transferred outward.

7. A full-fashioned or flat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor comprising a main or body thread or threadsknitted into all the wales from edge to edge of the fabric and into allthe courses of the stocking or blank, and a series of warp threadsextending lengthwise said fabric and respectively knitted in loops insuccessive courses in different loops of said main or body thread orthreads in such courses, said stocking or blank having heel portionswhereof alternate courses only, knitted in the same direction, havelaterally transferred outward stitches that are composed both of warpthreads and the body thread or threads.

8. A full-fashioned or flat-knit ,run-proof or strongly run-,resistantstocking or blank therefor comprising a main or body thread or threadsknitted into all the wales from edge to edge of the fabric and into allthe courses of the stocking or blank, and a series of warp threadsextending lengthwise said fabric and respectively knitted in loops insuccessive courses in different loops of said main or body thread orthreads in such courses, said stocking or blank therefor having a toeportion knitted integral with the leg portion and having said -warpthreads extending integrally (l. e. without necessaryv thread severance)through the leg and the toe, the said toe portion and all the warpthreads thereof being unsevered continuations of the weft thread and ofthe warp threads existing in some preceding portion of the stocking.

9. A full-fashioned or fiat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking blank comprising integrally knitted leg portion, instep, heelportions, foot-sole and toe, said blank comprising a main or body threador threads knitted into all the wales of the said blank from edge toedge thereof and into all the courses of the said blank and a series ofwarp threads extending integrally lengthwise the said fabric through thesaid leg portion, instep, heel, foot-sole and toe, the said toe portionand all the warp threads thereof being unsevered continuations of theweft thread and of the warp threads existing in some preceding portionof the stocking.

where they are incorporated into stitches made from said heavier main orweft thread, than they are where incorporated into stitches made fromthe said lighter body or weft thread or threads.

11. A full-fashioned or flat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor, integrally knitted in one piece from the topof the stocking through the instep and toe and including the entire footportion, without thread severance being compelled by the steps vofstocking manufacture, said stocking or blank compris- 1 ing main or bodythreads knitted into all the wales from edge to edge of the fabricthroughout the length thereof, and a series of warp threads extendingeach in an unsevered continuous condition lengthwise the fabric andrespectively knitted in loops in successive courses in different loopsof said main or body threads in such courses, said stocking having anintegral, turned top welt, the main or weft thread whereof is of a. sizeor weight greater than that of the corresponding main or weft thread orthreads for the leg or instep, the said warp threads being incorporatedinto the fabric of the stocking under tension which in the said welt andin the said leg or instep portions, is respectively in inverse relationto the size or weight of the respective main or weft threads, therebyincreasing the longitudinal expansibility of the fabric with respect tothose portions of the fabric having the main or weft thread thereof ofgreater size or weight, such as said top welt.

12. A full-fashioned or flat-knit run-proof or strongly run-resistantstocking or blank therefor, integrally knitted in one piece from the topof the stocking through the instep and toe, and including the entirefoot portion, Without thread severance being compelledv by the steps ofstocking manufacture, said stocking or blank being composed of a main orbody thread or threads knitted into all the wales from edge to edge ofthe fabric throughout the length thereof, and a multiplicity of warpthreads in respective needle wales of the fabric, including warp threadsin substantially'all the needle wales of the instep of the stocking,said multiplicity of warp threads extending each in an unsevered,continuous condition lengthwisev the fabric and respectively knitted inloops in successive courses in different loops of said main or bodythread or threads in such courses and rendering the same runproof orstrongly run-resistant, the warp threads in needle wales of the toebeing all unsevered continuations of warp threads knitted into needlewales of the stocking preceding said toe.

"EILSWORTH E. cARLsoN.

